Mounting for a plurality of plectrums

ABSTRACT

A mounting for a plurality of plectrums comprises an elongated support body and integrally connected therewith by means of tearable webs at least one row of plectrums forming a unitary structure with the body.

United States Patent [15] 3,678,793 Schutze 51 July 25, 1972 [54] MOUNTING FOR A PLURALITY OF [56] References Cited PLECTRUMS UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] inventor: Rainer schutze Muhltalsuasse 128, 3,319,505 5/1967 Galetzky ..84/322 Heidelberg, Germany 3,] 12,668 12/1963 Moshay 3,512,444 5/1970 Burton ..84/258 [22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1970 211 App]. 3,852 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistan1Examiner-John F. Gonzales [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A'mmey Kun Kelman Aug. 27, 1970 Germany ..G 70 32 033.1 [57] ABSTRACT 52 u.s.c|.... ..s4/2ss, 84/320, 84/452 P A mounting-for a plurality of Plectrum comprises an elon- [51] lnt.Cl. ..Gl0c l/06,G10d 3/16 gated pp y n integrally connected therewith by 58 Field of Search ..s4/25s, 320, 321, 322, 452 P means of tearable webs at least one row of Plectrum forming a unitary structure with the body.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATEN'TIEI'JJuL25 Ian Fig. 4

Fig. 3

MOUNTING FOR A PLURALITY OF PLECTRUMS The present invention relates to a mounting for a plurality of plectrums used in harpsichords, spinets and like instruments, which makes it possible to store, count and then to mount the individual plectrums on the movable tongues in the jacks of the instruments.

No such mounting for a plurality of plectrums has heretofore been used. Rather, the individual plectrums were punched or stamped out from a sheet or cut from a strip of suitable material, the individual plectrums were then suitably shaped, and the shaped plectrums were sorted for eventual mounting on the jacks of the instruments for which they were designed.

It is the primary object of this invention to overcome this cumbersome procedure so that the plectrums may be simply produced, easily stored, readily counted, and held in position for final mounting.

This and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention with a mounting which comprises an elongated support body and at least one row of plectrums forming a unitary structure with the body. The plectrums and the support body are of the same material, each plectrum is wedge shaped and has a mounting plate at one end thereof, and a tearable web of the same material connects the mounting plate of each plectrum to the support body.

Usefully, the material is a synthetic resin which is resilient when it has the small dimensions of a plectrum. Polyvinyl acetal and melamine or urea formaldehyde resins have been found very useful for this purpose. Such resins may be injection molded or cast so that the mounting may be produced in a single step. It is also possible, of course, to punch or stamp the mounting from a sheet of the material.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a top view of a mounting of two rows of plectrums;

FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of an individual wedge- 2 shaped plectrum; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown an elongated support body 2 having two rows 5 and 6 of sockets 3 laterally extending from opposite sides of the body 2. A plectrum I is connected to each socket 3 by means of tearable or readily breakable web 4.

Each wedge-shaped plectrum has a mounting plate 7 at one end therefore for mounting the plectrum on a movable tongue of a jack of such musical instruments as spinets or harpsichords, as is well known. The operative portion 8 of the plectrum extends from the mounting plate and, being thinner than the mounting plate, as may best be seen in FIG. 4, it is wedgeshaped for resilient engagement with a string of the instrument to be plucked.

The material for the plectrum must not only have the required resiliency but must also be durable. Leather has been used for this purpose and, more recently, synthetic resins have been proposed. I have found polyvinyl acetal and melamine or urea formaldehyde resins particularly advantageous.

It is very simple to produce the unitary mounting structure of the present invention by injection molding or casting in suitable molds. After molding or casting, the mounting is removed from the mold ready for storage or mounting of the individual plectrums.

I claim:

1. A mounting for a plurality of plectrums used in harpsichords, spinets and like musical instruments, comprising an elongated support body and at least one row of plectru ms forming a unitary structure with said body, the body and the plectrums being of the same material, each plectrum being wedge-shaped and having a mounting plate at one end thereof, and a tearable web of the same material connecting the mounting plate of each lectrum to said body.

he mounting 0 claim 1, wherein said material is a synthetic resin.

3. The mounting of claim 2, wherein the synthetic resin is a polyvinyl acetal.

4. The mounting of claim 2, wherein the synthetic resin is a melamine or urea formaldehyde resin. 

1. A mounting for a plurality of plectrums used in harpsichords, spinets and like musical instruments, comprising an elongated support body and at least one row of plectrums forming a unitary structure with said body, the body and the plectrums being of the same material, each plectrum being wedge-shaped and having a mounting plate at one end thereof, and a tearable web of the same material connecting the mounting plate of each plectrum to said body.
 2. The mounting of claim 1, wherein said material is a synthetic resin.
 3. The mounting of claim 2, wherein the synthetic resin is a polyvinyl acetal.
 4. The mounting of claim 2, wherein the synthetic resin is a melamine or urea formaldehyde resin. 